Party president Abdul Hadi Awang, speaking at the Sabah PAS convention in Kota Kinabalu, said it was necessary for the party to win seats in Sabah in order to gain power in the federal government.

He said PAS had sat out the 2022 parliamentary elections in Sabah to support its allies in Perikatan Nasional. “That might change at the state elections,” he said in Kota Kinabalu, according to Sinar Harian.

He said the number of seats to be contested at the state assembly elections would depend on the strength of the PAS machinery in Sabah and discussions with coalition partners. “We don’t even know when the elections will be held,” Hadi said.

The term of the current Sabah state assembly expires in October next year, after which elections must be held within 60 days.

In his speech, Hadi looked ahead to the next general election, which must be held by 2027, and said: “We have an opportunity every five years to elect a government. Give PAS a chance to lead the government.”

He said PAS could form a government with its own seats or in alliance with friends in other parties, and liberate the country without depending on “outsiders”.

Asked about PAS’s cooperation with PN partners in Sabah, he said PAS acknowledges the multicultural nature of Sabah society.

He said Muslims still make up the majority in the state, although coming from various ethnic groups.

Hadi said Sabah PAS now has 20,000 members in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.

A population report in 2018 showed that Muslims made up close to two-thirds of Sabah’s population, followed by Christians (26.6%) and Buddhists (6.1%).

Perikatan Nasional comprises Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, the Sabah Progressive Party and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party.